Construction of glass coffins



UNITE STATES P JOHN R. CANNON, OF NEW ALBANY, INDIANA.

CONSTRUCTION OF GLASS COFEINS.

Speccation of Letters Patent No. 25,883, dated October 25, 1859.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JNO. R. CANNON, of New Albany, in the county of Floyd and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Construction of Cotlins; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in constructing coffins of glass, substantially as hereinafter set forth.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l represents a perspective of the coffin complete. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the body or' the coffin. Fig. 3 is a perspective of the lid of the Cottin.

In the gures A, represents the body of the cofin which is made of glass, and in any of the usual forms. The said body may be made in sections of glass, or it may be blown or molded as may be cheapest or best. Around the top of this body is formed a groove marked o3 A, represents the top or lid of the coin which is provided on its under side with a flange which enters the groove w when said lid is placed upon the body-the lid A is also provided with an aperture on top in which is tted any simple forni of air pump as shown at B.

D, D, represent metallic bands which pass around the con and serve to bind the cover or lid on securely. These bands are in two parts being hinged together at E, E, and joined or secured together at F, F, by means of screws or otherwise.

When a dead body is placed in this coiiin the groove a?, @c is partially filled with any convenient and suitable cement. The lid is then placed on and the flange a, a, is pressed into the cement and the said lid securely fastened down by means of the metallic bands D, D. A portion of the air may be removed from the coiin by means of the pump B, so that there being less pressure of air on the outside than there is on the inside of the body it will be caused by the air within, to fill out and assume a more life like appearance-besides this by removing a portion of the air there will be less liability of the bodys decaying.

The advantages of this coflin are many, as glass is one of the best non conductors of heat and electricity known, it is more durable than almost any other substance, it is cheap and easily made-blown or pressedand when the body within it is made to assume a more life like appearance by removing a portion of the air the said body may be at any time seen and observed by the friends and relatives of the deceased.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- Constructing a coffin of glass, the body of which is provided with a groove m, oc, and the lid with a flange a, c, and a pump B, the lid being secured to the body by means of metallic bands D, D, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

JOHN R. CANNON. lVitnesses:

R. M. VEIR, A. A. DAY. 

